Trimming apparatus



, 1938. J. c. SMITH 2,105,131

TRIMMING APPARATUS Filed May l5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 11

.TRIMMING APPARATUS I@ Filed May l5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jox/N 6? ,5M/TH BY Wim *fw ab L l A TTORNE Patented Jan. 11, 1938 Nir , stares PATENT. l'o1-"Flea TRIDIMINGAPPARATU SY .Folin C. Smith, Norwalk, Conn., assignor to Hat Corporation of America, Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Appiication May 15, 1936, Serial No. 79,915

14 Claims. (Cl. 223-16) This inventiony relates to apparatus for trim-4 ming material and especiallyto apparatus for trimming the brim portion of a hat.

In the manufacture of hats, and particularly ,hats made of fur, felt, fabric, and the like, after and a string or the like drawn to encircle the` scrap, thus tautly securing the hat on the shapj., ing block. This tightly drawn string causes a portion of the scrap material to be disposed at an angle te the regular brim portion of the hat.

',Ihe operations usually performed on the hat while positioned on the special shaping block,.v

above mentioned, consist of ironing, pouncing and luring. These operations are usually performed by a machine in a i'lrst treatment and then by hand in a second treatment. Following the hat shaping steps just described, the string isremoved, the hat is taken from the block, and

then the hat brim is trimmed to the desired widthV and contour relative to the crown.

l Most of the trimming machines heretofore provided for trimming hat brims were adapted to perform this function only with hats having flat or substantially fiat brims or hats wherein the edge of the brim wasl equidistant from the crown throughout its entire periphery. Also, most of these brim trimming machines proposed in the past had complicated automatically driven apparatus for moving the hat relative to the cutter.

Accordingly most of the previous efforts resulted in complicated costly machines having a Very limited field of use.

It is a primary object of the present invention I to provide a very simple and inexpensive trimbrims having ya wide variety of uniform and nenming apparatus, especially adapted to trim hat uniform shapes.

Also, heretofore in some of the forms of trim-V f' be given the desired shape. In many of such trimi ming machines it was necessary toprovide a separate or new templet 'each time anew or different brim shape was desired. This, of course, ne-

cesstated the inconvenience of disassemblingand reassembling a portion of the machine, delayed production, and increased `production cost. In the absence of a special templet apparatus the trimming machines heretofore proposed were generally incapable of trimming the brim to a uniform width. i

In many cases, especially in womens hats, it is desirable that the brim be of varying widths relative to the crown at different points so that various style eiTects may be obtained. Also, with some forms of hats it is desirable to have the various sections of the brim at various angles and in divers shapes or forms relative to the crown. All of these special shapes represent special problems with the machines heretofore provided for trimming brims. In many s uch instances it was necessary to' resort to manual trimming with a pair of hand shears.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a trimming apparatus which will trim even very irregular shaped brims, thereby dispensingwith slow, costly, and nonuniform hand trimming operations now used.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a trimming device with which, in the trimming of brims to varying contours, there is eliminatedv the necessity of providing a special templet apparatus, or any complicated automatic mechanism for shifting the hat relative to cutters.

To this endthere is provided, as an important feature of the invention, means associated with the cutters, which are cooperable with the angularly disposed portions of the brim for `auto-matically guiding the material relative to the cutters or trimmers. In its preferred form a portion of the guiding means is formed by the cutter itself.

Another object of the inventionA vis the provision of a material feeding device associated with the cuters which automatically compensates for varying thicknesses in the material so as not l to crush and damage the same, or to mar the outer appearance thereof.

vIn accomplishingV this desired object there is provided, asa further feature of the invention, a pair of semi-floating feed rollers which are positioned at either side of one of the cutting elements, andwhich are movable relative thereto, according to variations inthe thickness of the material being'trimmed so that at all times the same amount of feeding pressure is applied to the hat. I

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a trimming device for trimming material having angularly disposed and/or irregularly shaped brim portionsin which there is included a rotary cutter having positioned at opposite sides thereof semi-iioating rollers with oppositely bevelled peripheral faces defining an annular groove, and in which there is also ineluded a second rotary cutter which is cooperable with the first mentioned cutter and has positioned at one side thereof a roller, the roller and the second rotary cutter having oppositely bevelled peripheral faces complementary to the oppositely bevelled peripheral faces of the first described rollers and extending into the annular groove dened thereby to cooperate with the peripheral faces of the first mentioned rollers and with the angularly disposed portions of the material for guiding and/or feeding the material relative to the cutters.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a special guide means associated with the cutters and rollers hereinbefore meniioned which is adapted to cooperate with the angularly disposed portions ofthe material to guide and direct the material to the cutters and associated rollers. This structure is such that the hat may be fed automatically through the machine at a fast rate or may be slowed down any extent or even stopped by merely pressing ones fingers onto the hat and underlying special guide means. Y

Other and more specific features residing in advantageous forms, combinations and relations Ythe invention, the stationary guide being omitted in order to more clearly illustrate the cutters and associated rollers.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device showing the manner in which a hat is directed and fed rela-V tive to the cutters, a portion of thehat brim being broken away in order to more clearly illustrate certain of the parts of the device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing the cutters and associated rollers and the stationary guide member.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the hat positioned on the shaping block.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the manner in which the stationary guide member cooperates with the angularly disposed portions of the hat brim to assist in guiding and directing the brim relative to the cutters and 'associated rollers.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, there is shown a base I on which there is mounted and secured thereto in any suitable manner a frame II. Preferably, and as illustrated, the frame is secured to the base by means of a plurality of bolts I2 which pass through suitable holes in cooperating flanges I3 and I4 formed respectively on the base I0 and the supporting frame II and which are held in place by nuts I 5, If preferred, the base and frame may be made integral or the frame secured directly to a bench table, or the like, if the cutter section of the rapparatus projects beyond the edge thereof.

Carried by the frame II is an upper shaft I6 supported in front and rear bearings I1 and I8 in the yoke portion I9 constituting the upper arm 26 of the frame. Also carried by the frame is a lower shaft 2I supported in front and rear bearings 22 and 23 in the yoke portion I 9a constituting the lower arm 24 of the frame, the upper and lower arms of the frame being connected by an intermediate supporting arm 25 which, as shown, may be formed integral therewith.

Concurrent rotation of the shafts I6 and 2| in the present preferred form of the apparatus is achieved by providing cooperating gears 34 and 35 respectively fixed to portions 36 and 3l of the shafts which extend rearwardly from the supporting frame by screws 29 and 33 passing through the hub portions 2l and 3| of the respective gears. Longitudinal movement of the upper shaft I6 is prevented by a collar 26 suitably secured to the shaft by a set screw 28 and by the hub portion 21 of the gear 34 positioned respectively at opposite sides of the bearing I8. Longitudinal movement of the lower shaft is similarly prevented by a collar 3I suitably secured to the shaft by a set screw 32 and by the hub portion 3| of the gear 35 positioned respectively at opposite sides of the bearing 23. A pulley 38 secured to the lower shaft with a screw 39 affords a convenient means by which the shafts may be connected to any suitable prime mover by a belt or the like. g

Carried by and rotatable with portions of the shafts I6 and 2| which extend forwardly from the front bearings I'I and 22 are a pair of cooperating rotary cutters 40 and 4I which may be as shown, conveniently fixed thereto by pin connections 42 and 43 (see Fig. 4). As an aid in preventing movement of the cutters longitudinally of the respective shafts, the upper shaft is provided with a shoulder 44 against which the cutter 40 is held by the pin connection 42 and by the sleeve collar 46a which is held against the cutter 40 by the nut 41a associated with the threaded outer portion 48a of the upper shaft; and, the lower shaft is provided with a shoulder 45 between which and the cutter 4I there is interposed a sleeve collar 46 against which the cutter 4I is held by the pin connection 43 and the nut 4'I which is associated with the threaded outer portion 48 of the lower shaft and is engageable with the cutter to urge it in the direction of the shoulder.

Of particular importance, according to the present invention, positioned at opposite sides of the upper cutter 40 is a pair of rollers 49 and 50 having angularly disposed peripheral faces Iv and 52 defining an annular groove 53 in which projects the material cutting portion 40 of the cutter 40. Preferably these rollers are carried by the shaft I6 on which the cutter 4D is xed.

Movement of the rollers transverse the carrying shaft is permitted by providing the rollers 49 and 5U with shaft encircling bores 54 and 55 which are of greater diameter than the portions of the shaft with which they are associated. Movement of the rollers 49 and 50 longitudinally of the shaft is prevented by collars 56 and 5l which are secured to the shaft by the set screws 56' and 5l respectively and by the cutter 40. There are thus provided rollers which are in semi-floating relation with respect to the cutter and to the shaft.

Positioned at one side of the lower cutter 4I is an associated lower roller 58, which may be and preferably is, as shown, carried by the shaft 2| on which the lower cutter 4I is fixed and held from relative movement therewith by the set screw 58 which is adapted to pass through the hub portion 59 of the roller and engage the shaft.

The peripheral faces 60 and 6I respectively of the lower cutter 4I and associated roller 58 are angularly disposed and extend into the annular CII groove 53 defined by the complementary angular- 75 ly disposed peripheral faces and 52 of the rollers 49 and 50 carriedv by the upper shaft I5 to cooperate therewith in the guiding and feeding the material to be trimmed.

To accommodate the material cutting portion 40 of the upper cutter and permit a proper positioning thereof relative to the material cutting portion 4| of the lower cutter 4|, the lower rollver 58 Yisspaced a slight distance from the lower and El of the lo-wer cutter and associated roller over which the material is passed.

With this construction,r the pressure upon the material passing through the device is always uniform, because whether the particular piece of material passing therethrough varies in thickness or whether diierent pieces of material having different thickness are passed therethrough the semi-floating rollers will automatically compensate therefore. Y

The feeding of the material is accomplished by the lower roller and cutter 58 and 4| which are fixed to the shaft 2| and against the angularly disposed peripheral faces BIJ and 6| of which, as above explained, the material is held with a uniform pressure by the floating rollers 49 an A particularly advantageous application of the invention is the` trimming of material which has been, prior to the trimming operation, folded or formed in such a way that the crease denes a line which is the same as or is equidistant from the line along which it is desired to cut or trim the material. In trimming such a material, the angularly disposed portions are positioned in the device between the complementary angularly disposed peripheral faces 5| and 52- of the semifloating rollers 49 and 50 and faces 6l! and 6| of the lower cutter 4| and associated roller 58. In this manner the `material is held in a definite position relative to the material cutting portions 40' and 4| of the cutters and is trimmed on the line dened by the crease or ona line equidistant from the crease depending upon the particular adjustment of the device.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a hat S6 'positioned on a shaping block 61 in the usual manner, with an outer brim 5,8, constituting the scrap, being angularly disposed relative to a regular brim E9, to shape a deformation 1|!` and the line of meeting of angularly disposed portions 1| and 'l2 defining the line along which it is desired to trim the brim. The string T3 which encircles the outer brim or scrap is for the purpose of drawing the brim taut on the block during certain of the finishing operations and to clearly dene the line of demarcation between the regular brim and the scrap. The dash line 14 is merely to show the crown portion of a hat of a style differentthan the oneV In the trimming `of the brim 69, after the stringVr 13 is removed and the hat 66 taken from the shaping block 6l the scrap portion 68 is fed and guided to the device b-y hand until the angularly disposed portions 'll and 12 of the brim are prop- 'erly positioned between the complementary angularly disposed peripheral portions 5| and 52 of the semi-floating rollers 49 and 5|] and faces 6|! and 5| of the lower cutter 4| and associated roller 58 until the deformation or edge l0 is .aligned with the material, cutting portions 40 and 4|.

In thisV position the semi-floating rollers 49 and 50, due to their weight, press downwardly upon the angularly disposed portions 1| and l2 respectively of the brim to cooperate therewith and Vwith the angularly disposed peripheral portions 60 and 6I of the lower cutter 4| land associated roller 5B to guide and to feed the brim relative to the material cutting portions 40 and 4| of the cutters 40 and 4| respectively in such a way that the line of cut is coincident with the deformation lil or line of demarcation between the angularly disposed brim portions 1| and 12.

After the brim has been thus properly positioned relative to the cutters, the angularly disposed peripheral faces 5|, 52, 60 and 6| guide the work, relative to the cutters 4|) and 4|, and further exact guiding by the operator is, therefore, unnecessary. Also the semi-iloating rollers 49 and 50 press the hat onto the faces 60 and 5| of the cutter 4| and roller 58 with sufficient force to cause the latter to feed the work. Regardless of variations in the thickness of the material the semi-oating rollers impart the exact same weight on the work; consequently there is no danger of crushing the material or marring its appearance.

It will be appreciated that the guide formed by the faces 5|, 52, 60, and 6| is equally effective for hats wherein the deformation 'l0 may be close or distant from a crown 66', or both close and distant in the one hat, and also for hats wherein the brim may be disposed at a right angle, at an acute angle, or at various angles relative to the crown.

The adaptability of the device to variations in the thickness of a given piece of material as well as in the thickness of different pieces of material, as heretofore explained, is of particular importance in the trimming of hat brims. In the absence of this feature and in apparatus with xedly spaced or spring pressed rollers variations in thickness of therbrirn would cause variations in the pressure on the brim and would produce uneven spots on the-brim, thus negativing to a considerable extent the prior finishing operations to which the hat had been subjected.

As an aid in directing the brim to the cutters 40 and 4| and asssociated rollers and as a further feature of the invention, there may be provided a stationary guide 18. A bracket 8B with which the guide is associated by means of a bolt and slot connection 19 may be, as shown, conveniently fixed to the frame by means of one of the bolts I2 with which the frame is secured to the base lll to thereby support and maintain the guide in proper relation with the cutters 4U and 4| and associated rollers. Y

The guide, which is shown in detail in Fig. 3,

4has a substantially arcuate portion 8| which extends toward the cutters 40 and 4| and in line therewith. The arcuate portion is provided with angularly disposed or bevelled upper side walls 82 and 83 which are adapted, as shown in Figs. 2

and 6, to partially support the hat and to cooperate with the angularly disposed portions 1I and 12 of the `brim to guide the same to the cutters` and rollers. Vertical adjustment of the ser guide is accomplished by'means vof the bolt and slot connection i9 between the guide and the supporting lug 8L'. The use of this guide 'I8 facilitates the cutting operation and insures a straight 5 travel of the edge relative to the cutters. By lightly holding the sections 'il and l2 on the guide a fast automatic feed of the hat to the cutters is assured. Immediately if the edge of the hat gets away from the cutters the operator can apply l a slightly greater ressure to the hat over the guide 18 to slow up its travel or to fully stop its travel. This is a real advantage which cannot be accomplished with the` usual automatic feed machines. l: Although the hat SS has been herein described as having angularly disposed portions ll and 12, leading to the deformation lil, it will be understood that the general shape may be arcuate to various degrees (as showninslight degree in Fig. 20. 6). Also, the angle and spacing of the brim relative to the crown may vary greatly, and the apparatus of the present invention still function in a highly satisfactory manner without the use of a templet and substantially-without alteration. Other variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is clairned as new is:

l. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat, the combination of a rotary cutter; a pair of rollers, one of the pair of rollers being positioned on each side of said cutter, hav- 35.2ing angularly disposed peripheral faces defining an annular groove; a second cutter cooperable with said first named cutter; a roller associated with and positioned at one side of said second cutter, said second cutter and associated roller 4m having angularly disposed peripheral faces complementary to the angularly disposed peripheral faces of said pair of rollers and'extending into the annular groove defined thereby to cooperate with said pair of rollers in guiding the hat relative to the cutters; and a guide extending toward said cutters and in line with said annular groove for partially supporting and for directing the hat to the cutters and rollers. Y

2. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat in which a crease has been formed defined by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination'of a rotary cutter; two rollers, one of the two rollers being positioned at each side of said cutter; oppositely bevelled peripheral faces Y on said rollers defining an annular groove; a second rotary cutter cooperable with said first named cutter; a roller positioned at one side of said second named cutter; and oppositely bevelled i peripheral faces on said second cutter and asso-l ciated roller complementary to the oppositely bevelled peripheral faces of said first Ynamed rollers and extending into the annular groove defined thereby to cooperate with the peripheral 65..faces of said first named rollers and with said angularly disposed portions of the hat for guiding the hat relative to the cutters.

3. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat in which a crease has been formed dened by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination of a rotary cutter; two rollers, one of the two rollersl being positioned on each side of said cutter and movable upwardly and downwardly relative thereto;

oppositely bevelled peripheral faces on said rollers defining an annular groove; a' second rotary cutter cooperable with said rst named cutter; a roller positioned at one side of said second named cutter; and oppositely bevelled peripheral faces on said second cutter and associated roller complementary to the oppositely bevelled peripheral faces of said first named rollers and extending into the annular groove defined thereby to cooperate with the peripheral faces of said rst named rollers and with said angularly disposed portions of the hat for guiding the hat relative to the cutters.

4. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat, the combination of an upper shaft; a rotary cutter mounted on said shaft; a pair of rollers, one of the pair of rollers being positioned on each side of said cutter, carried by said upper shaft and movable transversely thereof; angularly disposed peripheral faces on said pair of rollers defining an annular groove; a lower shaft; a second rotary cutter mounted on said lower shatandcooperable with said first named cutter; a roller associated with and carried by said lower shaft at one side Yof said second cutter; and angularly disposed peripheral faces on said second cutter and associated roller complementary to the angularly disposed peripheral faces on said pair of rollers and extending into the annular groove defined thereby to cooperate with said pair of rollers in guiding the hat relative to the cutters.

5. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat, the combination of an upper shaft; a rotary cutter mounted on said shaft; a pair of rollers, one of the pair cf rollers being positioned on each side of said cutter, carried by said upper shaft and movable transversely thereof angularly disposed peripheral faces on said pair of rollers defining an annular groove; a.

lower shaft; a second rotary cutter mounted on said lower shaft and cooperable with said rst named cutter; a roller associated with and carried by said lower shaft at one side of said second cutter; angularly disposed peripheral faces on said second cutter and associated roller complementary to the angularly disposed peripheral faces on said pair'of rollers and extending into the annular groove defined thereby te cooperate with said pair of rollers in guiding the material relative to the cutter, and a stationary guide extending toward said cutter and in line with said groove for partially supporting and for directing the hat to the cutters and rollers.

6. In a device of the character described, for" trimming a hat in which a crease has been formed dened by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination of a pair of opposed cutters; driving means for said cutters; a pair of semi-floating rollers, one of the pair of rollers being positiene-d on each side of one of said cutters, movable upwardly and downwardly relative thereto, and having angularly disposed peripheral faces defining an annular groove; and a stationary guide for partially supporting and for directing material to the cutters and rollers, said stationary guide and said angularly disposed peripheral faces of the pair of semi-floating rollers constituting means engageable with said angularly disposed portions for automatically guiding andv feeding the hat whereby the extent of feed may be controlled by the pressure of an operators fingers.

7. In a device of the character described, for

trimming a hat, the combination of an upper shaft; a rotary cutter mounted on` said shaft; a pair of semi-floating rollers, one of the pair of rollers being positioned on each Aside of said cutter, urged downwardly solely by their own weight; angularly disposed peripheral faces on said pair of rollers defining an annular groove; a lower shaft; a second rotary cutter mounted on said lower shaft and cooperable with said rst named cutter; a roller positioned at one side of said second cutter; and angularly disposed peripheral faces on said second cutter and associated roller complementary to the angularly disposed peripheral faces on said first pair of rollers and extending into the annular groove defined thereby to cooperate with said pair of rollers in guiding and feeding the hat relative to the cutters.

8. In a device of the character described, for

`trinaming a hat in which a creasehas been formed defined by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination of a trimming means; a rotatable means having diverging peripheral faces defining a eriplieral groove for locating said trimming means and for receiving said angularly disposed portions, said trimming means being positioned at the center of said groove; and means providing converging faces complementary to the diverging peripheral faces and extending into said groove to cooperate directly therewith in guiding said hat relative to said trimmingmeans.

9.1m. a device of the character described, for trimming a hat in which a crease has been formed denne-d by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination of a trimming means; a rotatable means having diverging peripheral faces deiinng a peripheral groove for locating said trimming means and for receiving said angularly disposed portions, said trimming means being positioned at the center of said peripheral groove; andopposed rotatable means providing converging peripheral faces complementary to the diverging peripheral faces and extending into the groove to cooperate directly therewith in gui-ding and feeding said hat relative to said trimming means.

10. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat in which a crease has been formed defined by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination of a trimming means; rotatable means urged downwardly solely by its own weight and having diverging peripheral faces defining a peripheral groove for locating said trimming means and for receiving said angularly disposed portions, said rotatable means being movable upwardly and downwardly independently of said trimming means; an-d opposed rotatable means providing converging peripheral faces complementary to the diverging peripheral faces and extending into the groove defined thereby to cooperate directly therewith in guiding and feeding said hat relative to said trimming means.

11. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat in which a crease has been formed defined by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination of a trimming means; a rotatable means dening a peripheral groove for locating said trimming means and for receiving said angularly disposed portions; opposed rotatable means providing converging peripheral faces extending into said groove to cooperate with sai-d rst named rotatable means in guiding and feeding said hat relative to said trimming means; and an arcuate guide, extending toward said trimming means and in line with said peripheral groove, having converging upper side walls cooperable with said angularly disposed portions for directing the hat to the trimming means and the peripheral groove.

l2. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat in which a crease has been formed dened by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination of a pair of opposed upper and lower cutting disks; and a pair of semi-noating rollers, one of the pair of rollers being positioned on each side of said upper disk, urge-d downwardly solely by their own weight, and engageable with said angularly disposed portions for guiding the hat relative to the opposed cutting disks, said rollers being movable upwardly and downwardly independently of said upper disk.

13. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat in which a crease has been formed defined by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination of a pair of shafts; a pair of opposed rotary cutters having material cutting portions Y and respectively carried by said shafts; means carried by one of said shafts and movable transversely relative thereto, defining a groove for loeating said material cutting portions and for receiving the angularly disposed portions of the hat; and means carried by the other of said shafts providing converging faces extending into said groove to cooperate with said rst named means in guiding and feeding the hat relative to the cutters.

14. In a device of the character described, for trimming a hat in which a crease has been formed dened by the line of meeting of portions angularly disposed relative to each other, the combination of a pair of shafts; a pair of opposed rotary cutters respectively carried by said shafts; a pair of semi-oating rollers, one of said pair of rollers being positioned on each side of one of said cutters, having oppositely bevelled peripheral faces adapted to engage with said angularly disposed portions of the hat for guiding the latter relative tothe cutters; rotatable means carried by the other of said shafts adapted to cooperate with said pair oi Vrollers in guiding and feeding the material relative to the cutters; and an arcuate guide, extending toward said cutters and in line therewith, having angularly disposed upper side Walls adapted to direct the hat to the cutters and associated rollers.

JOHN C. SMITH. 

